U.S. students competed with teams from more than 70 countries during the competition, which marked only the second time the event was held in the United States during its 44-year history.

Competition began in the spring with more than 14,000 chemistry students taking exams in schools across the country. About 1,000 students advanced to take the national exam for the Chemistry Olympiad, and the top 20 went on to a two-week study camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.